SXMElections.com

~More than 300 registrants, 10 workshops, and opportunities to learn from local and international experts~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Held throughout November, now officially decreed by law as Financial Literacy Month, the SXM Financial Literacy Month surpassed expectations with more than 300 participants, including walk-ins. Islandpreneur and the Ministry of Finance are thrilled to announce the successful completion of this groundbreaking initiative aimed at bolstering financial knowledge and resilience within the community Read more

~Financial Literacy Month Event Deemed a Success~

PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of the ongoing Financial Literacy Month, a highly informative information session titled, "Taxation Explained," was successfully hosted at the Government Administration Building on November 6th, 2023. This event, organized in collaboration with The Ministry of Finance and Ms. Ife Badejo of Islandpreneur, aimed to provide the public with comprehensive insights into various tax obligations and the critical role of the Tax Administration in promoting compliance and cooperation Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Rolando Brison, Member of Parliament and leader of the United People's Party, is raising critical concerns about the potential consequences of proposed financial regulations from the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Finance hosted an onboarding session to a room full of citizens interested in being part of the first to try out SEN, by CX Pay, the new e-wallet app. The event was open to the public as well as civil servants, 85 of whom showed up to learn more about the apps features, functions, and capabilities.
The name SEN is a play of the colloquial Sint Maarten use of the word send, as in the app will be used to send money, from one use to another among other features Read more

Mr. Chairman, Members of Parliament, Good Morning,

As stipulated in our constitution, I now stand before you on this second Tuesday in September, to set out the policy to be pursued by the Government in the coming parliamentary year 2023-2024.

Since 2021, reform measures have been established as part of the mutual agreement with the Netherlands in exchange for financial support, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Structural reforms for the improvement and restructuring of government are in the areas of Financial Control, Cost and Effectiveness of the Public Sector, Taxes, Financial Sector, Economic Reforms, Health, Education, and Strengthening the Rule of Law.

From the very beginning, the Government of Sint Maarten has stressed the importance of the National Development Vision as instructions for all of Sint Maarten's development, including these reform measures Read more

~Ministry of Finance & U.S. Consulate joined the delegation to build strategic relationships~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The winners of the National Youth Pitch Competition, Upcycl, and young entrepreneur Giomara Olivacce, embarked on an enriching journey to Atlanta, participating in the inaugural Islandpreneur Summer Entrepreneurial Exchange (ISEE) program. Representing Milton Peters College, Isaiah Peterson, Jael Jong a Lock, and Kymora Reed and winner of the International Youth Entrepreneurship Program (2021) spent a week in Atlanta learning about its entrepreneurial ecosystem, meeting with founders and investors, and exploring the uniqueness of Atlanta through a variety of curated attractions Read more

~The 4th Annual Summit on June 29-30, a Resounding Success~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The entrepreneurial landscape of St. Maarten reverberated with innovative strategies and visionary perspectives at this year's Islandpreneur Live. The event shone a light on implementable solutions and strategic alliances over an immersive two-day period.
Officially opened by Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Silveria Jacobs, Islandpreneur Live 2023 echoes the government's staunch dedication to entrepreneurship and economic escalation Read more

~Ministry of Finance launches new electronic payment app~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Finance recently announced its newest innovation at the Islandpreneur Live 2023 event. The innovation comes in the form of a new app called Sen, something the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion called, a hybrid between Cash App and Venmo. It is with this description that the Minister set the stage to introduce the app and some details about what the people of Sint Maarten can expect from Sen.
The name Sen is a play on the colloquial Sint Maarten use of the word send, as in the app will be used to send money, from one use to another among other features Read more

C-Tec Announces Dates And Venue For 2016 Education Technology Conference

More technology, more creativity, more local and international input

PHILIPSBURG:--- The first installment of the Caribbean Technology & Education conference in 2015 was a resounding success. Building on that achievement, the C-TEC organizing committee proudly announces that the 2016 conference will take place in the Hillside Christian School (Asha Stevens Campus) and the adjoining NIPA building, on October 23 to 25 Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---- Candidate on the SMCP list Claude Chacho Peterson shared his views on his person in the article below is the full text from Peterson.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone so far that have sent there best wishes via Facebook, whatsapp, cell and in person. This will not be an easy journey, but I am ENERGIZED by the positive support and the Prayers for my candidacy.
A few weeks ago I was approached by Pastor Wycliffe Smith and Mr Read more

Say It Loud! Racism In The Dutch Kingdom Is Unacceptable.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Earlier this week we read that a young man of 21 years was gunned down in the city of Schiedam in the Netherlands. The fact that he was dark complexioned, and ethno-racial profiling among Dutch police officers in the Netherlands is condoned as an unfortunate security measure. It have caused many activists throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands to argue that this is one of the outcomes of a situation where, it has become politically suspect to say that racism within the Dutch Kingdom is unacceptable!
In this contribution, we seek to say the new politically suspect as loud as possible: Dutch racism is unacceptable! “Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words can never hurt us.” Whoever wholeheartedly believes that this saying holds all the time, and in every occasion, is either lying to themselves or not part of the human species Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The IB Diploma Class of 2016's CAS Presentation and Pinning Ceremony marked the end of their two-year journey to discover the answer to the question: "What can I be?” On Friday, April 15, the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs, The Catholic School Board, The Department of Inspection, School Manager Ms. Gianne Wilson-DeWeever, representatives of several NGO's, community stakeholders, parents, and teachers were part of this celebratory event.

The program opened with the students highlighting the skills and experiences they cultivated by engaging in the Creativity, Action and Service component of their academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The University of St. Martin donates to Dominica the day after Dominica was hit by heavy rainfalls due to Tropical Storm Erika, the Board of Directors and Management of the University of St. Martin (USM) addressed a letter to the Prime Minister of Dominica Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit, in an act of spontaneous solidarity. In that letter USM pledged its support to the recovery of Dominica. That very same day students, faculty, and staff began to pool resources to assist with the relief efforts Read more

Heated Debate by Members of Parliament as to how they will deal with the Petition sent to Parliament regarding the Simpson Bay Development.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Chairlady of the petitions committee of Parliament MP Leona Marlin-Romeo opened a pandora box on Thursday when she asked the Members of Parliament to establish how they will handle petitions sent to Parliament. While the debate on how the committee will handle petitions, the three residents of Simson Bay were sitting in Parliament to be heard Read more

>PHILIPSBURG: --- Several veteran and long standing police officers who have been waiting for their promotions are now peeved at the police management team whom they said are handpicking persons that are not qualified for top positions while officers of the force have been waiting for years to get their promotions.
Some of the officers spoke to SMN News on the condition of anonymity on Friday said that Jadira Gjisbertha, a scale 9 officer was chosen to take up a scale 12 position which was vacated by Pico Simmons who went on pension Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Parliament of St. Maarten on Wednesday granted Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs time to host his informal "Meet & Greet" event at Parliament house, where he stressed to MP's present that civility should be observed despite parties having their roles to play as part of St. Maarten's constitutional democracy.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by the President of Parliament Dr Read more

The grass might be greener on the other side of the fence, but the mangoes in your own backyard are the sweetest: a report on the USM in 2014.

>PHILIPSBURG:--- Too often we half-forget the wisdoms of our grandparents and great-grandparents. This of course is lamentable and tragic. It is time that we remember and endorse the other part of our grandmother and grandfather's wisdom notes to achieve wholeness as individuals and as a society.
Most of us are familiar with the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." We use this colourful expression routinely to state that from our dwelling place, from our little Caribbean island, from where we are standing, what takes place educationally in the overdeveloped countries in Western Europe and the USA and Canada or even the emerging economic powers in Asia, and what people in those countries have materially and we don't because we lack their educational system, is simply extraordinary Read more

style="text-align: center;">People of St. Maarten need to rise up and protect their heritage and culture – PM

PHILIPSBURG:--- The official and traditional St. Martin's Day celebration that was hosted by the French side did not see much Members of Parliament from the Dutch side. Even the ten seat majority in parliament did not show their faces on Tuesday at the church service that was held at the Methodist Church. In attendance were Member of Parliament Leona Marlin Romeo, Minister/Member of Parliament Maurice Lake and Minister/ Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever along with Prime Minister/ President of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams Read more

style="text-align: center;">Attorney at Law Jairo Bloem Issued Summon to Bosman if not face court injunction

PHILIPSBURG:--- Attorney at Law Jairo Bloem has issued a summons to Dutch MP Andre Bosman to issue an apology to his client MP/Minister Cornelius de Weever by Monday November 17th, 2014 or face a court injunction.
In a letter sent to MP Bosman dated November 10th 2014, Bloem stated that MP Bosman made erroneous, slanderous and defaming statements against his client MP De Weever shortly after MP De Weever abandoned the NA/DP/USp coalition and formed a government with the UPP.
Bloem said on October 22nd, 2014 an article was published in the Amigoe newspaper in Curacao stating that you received the open letter of client and first wanted to discuss the content thereof within your party Read more

style="text-align: center;">PM/President of Parliament dispatched letter to the Dutch Second Chamber on Instructions given to St. Maarten's Governor

PHILIPSBURG:---- The Prime Minister and President of St. Maarten's parliament penned a four page letter to the Dutch second chamber informing them of the standpoint of St. Maarten's Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams states clearly in her letter that the Council of Ministers on St Read more

style="text-align: center;">CUTD in Touch with UN, Dutch should not interfere in St. Maarten's Problems

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Citizens United for True Democracy (CUTD) plans to hold a protest march on Monday October 13th, 2014 starting at the WIFOL building on the Pondfill where they will march to the Government Administration Building to call on the Government of St. Maarten to stop the Dutch Members of Parliament namely Andre Bosman and Ronald van Raak who managed to rally the second chamber to take measures against St Read more

style="text-align: center;">Johnson calls on community to support

DUTCH QUARTER:--- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School which is located in the district of Dutch Quarter will soon start with their plans to create a new playground for their Cycle one students. "The initial discussions have commenced and we will be executing this plan within the shortest possible time," remarked School Manager Stuart Johnson.

School Management is working closely with the Parent Teacher Foundation (PTF) of the school to ensure this project is successfully completed Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The task ahead for St. Maarten is daunting said Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams when addressing the media on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers weekly press briefing. She said St. Maarten will do what is necessary to implement the recommendations given in the PWC integrity report which the Kingdom Council mandated the Governor of St Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:--- In mid March 2014, Benjamin & Parker (www.b-parker.com), initiated onsite certification sessions for the online course "Efficiency Auditing", a new science to secure corporate workflow effectiveness and corporate financial waste, in association with PCMI under management of Mr. Robert Budike. The course had a particular characteristic as it emphasized the Colombian method of efficiency and risk management applications, after considering its thoroughness and security scrutiny safeguards to contain operation and financial high impact incidents Read more